Electronic key apparatus

Abstract

An electronic key apparatus wherein an encrypted code for unlocking an electronic lock is stored in an encrypted code storage register. A password is stored in a password storage register. The same password as that stored in the password storage register, is input via a switch. The password input by the switch is compared with the password stored in the password storage register, by a coincidence detection circuit. When a coincidence is detected, the encrypted code stored in the encrypted code storage register is transmitted to the electronic lock, by a transmitter.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic key apparatus comprising: encrypted code storage means for storing an encrypted code for unlocking an electronic lock;   pass data storage means for storing pass data;   data input switch means for inputting the same pass data as that stored in said pass data storage means;   data coinidence detection means for detecting a coincidence between the data input by said data input switch means and the pass data stored in said pass data storage means;   manual switch means; and   encrypted code transmission means for transmitting the encrypted code stored in said encrypted code storage means to said electronic lock when said coincidence is detected by said data coincidence detection means and said manual switch means is operated.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said encrypted code transmission means comprises light emitting diode means for transmitting the encrypted code as a light signal. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said encrypted code transmission means comprises a nonvolatile memory. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said encrypted code storage means comprises an item data storage region for indicating a type of said electronic lock, and an encrypted code storage region for storing the encrypted code for releasing said electronic lock. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising error alarming means for indicating that a coincidence is not detected by said data coincidence detection means. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising receiving means for receiving a signal transmitted from said electronic lock, and a display device which is driven in accordance with the signal received by said receiving means. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the signal received by said receiving means includes a signal indicating that said electronic lock cannot be unlocked. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising input terminal means for receiving power from said electronic lock, at least said encrypted code transmission means being driven by the power from said input terminal. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising timepiece circuit means for obtaining a time signal based on a reference signal. 
     
     
       10. An electronic key apparatus comprising: encrypted code storage means for storing an encrypted code for unlocking an electronic lock;   display means for displaying the encrypted code stored in said encrypted code storage means;   pass data storage means for storing pass data;   data input switch means for inputting the same pass data as that stored in said pass data storage means;   data coincidence detection means for detecting a coincidence between the data input by said data input switch means and the pass data stored in said pass data storage means; and   encrypted code transmission means for transmitting the encrypted code stored in said encrypted code storage means to said electronic lock when the coincidence is detected by said data coincidence detection means.   
     
     
       11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said encrypted code transmission means comprises light emitting diode means for transmitting the encrypted code as a light signal. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said encrypted code transmission means comprises a nonvolatile memory. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said encrypted code storage means comprises an item data storage region for indicating a type of said electronic lock, and an encrypted code storage region for storing the encrypted code for releasing said electronic lock. 
     
     
       14. An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising error alarming means for indicating that a coincidence is not detected by said data coincidence detection means. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising receiving means for receiving a signal transmitted from said electronic lock, and display device which is driven in accordance with the signal received by said receiving means. 
     
     
       16. An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the signal received by said receiving means includes a signal indicating that said electronic lock cannot be unlocked. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising input terminal means for receiving power from said electronic lock, at least said encrypted code transmission means being driven by the power from said input terminal means. 
     
     
       18. An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising timepiece circuit means for obtaining a time signal based on a reference signal. 
     
     
       19. An electronic key apparatus comprising: encrypted code storage means for storing an encrypted code for unlocking an electronic lock;   pass data storage means for storing pass data;   data input switch means for inputting the same pass data as that stored in said pass data storage means;   data coincidence detection means for detecting a coincidence between the data input by said data input switch means and the pass data stored in said pass data storage means;   encrypted code transmission means for transmitting the encrypted code stored in said encrypted code storage means to said electronic lock when the coincidence is detected by said data coincidence detection means; and   indicating means for indicating that the encrypted code is being transmitted by said encrypted code transmission means.   
     
     
       20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said encrypted code transmission means comprises light emitting diode means for transmitting the encrypted code as a light signal. 
     
     
       21. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said encrypted code transmission means comprises a nonvolatile memory. 
     
     
       22. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said encrypted code storage means comprises an item data storage region for indicating a type of said electronic lock, and an encrypted code storage region for storing the encrypted code for releasing said electronic lock. 
     
     
       23. An apparatus acording to claim 19, further comprising error alarming means for indicating that a coincidence is not detected by said data coincidence detection means. 
     
     
       24. An apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising receiving means for receiving a signal transmitted from said electronic lock, and a display device which is driven in accordance with the signal received by said receiving means. 
     
     
       25. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the signal received by said receiving means includes a signal indicating that said electronic lock cannot be unlocked. 
     
     
       26. An apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising input terminal means for receiving power from said electronic lock, at least said encrypted code transmission means being driven by the power from said input terminal means. 
     
     
       27. An apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising timepiece circuit means for obtaining a time signal based on a reference signal. 
     
     
       28. An electronic key apparatus comprising: encrypted code storage means for storing an encrypted code for unlocking an electronic lock;   pass data storage means for storing pass data;   data input switch means for inputting the same pass data as that stored in said pass data storage means;   data coincidence detection means for detecting a coincidence between the data input by said data input switch means and the pass data stored in said pass data storage means;   encrypted code updating means for enabling updating of the encrypted code stored in said encrypted code storage means only when the coincidence is detected by said data coincidence detection means;   encrypted code transmission means for transmitting the encrypted code stored in said encrypted code storage means to said electronic lock; and   manual switch means for causing said encrypted code transmission means to transmit the encrypted code, only when the coincidence is detected by said data conicidence detection means.   
     
     
       29. An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said encrypted code transmission means comprises light emitting diode means for transmitting the encrypted code as a light signal. 
     
     
       30. An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said encrypted code transmission means comprises a nonvolatile memory. 
     
     
       31. An apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising indicating means for indicating that the encrypted code is being transmitted by said encrypted code transmission means. 
     
     
       32. An apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising display means for displaying the encrypted code stored in said encrypted code storage means. 
     
     
       33. An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said encrypted code storage means comprises an item data storage region for indicating a type of said electronic lock, and an encrypted code storage region for storing the encrypted code for releasing said electronic lock. 
     
     
       34. An apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising error alarming means for indicating that a coincidence is not detected by said data coincidence detection means. 
     
     
       35. An apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising receiving means for receiving a signal transmitted from said electronic lock, and a display device which is driven in accordance with the signal received by said receiving means. 
     
     
       36. An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the signal received by said receiving means includes a signal indicating that said elctornic lock cannot be unlocked. 
     
     
       37. An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said encrypted code storage means includes means for storing a plurality of encrypted codes, and said apparatus further comprises operation switch means for causing said encrypted code transmission means to sequentially transmit the plurality of encrypted codes stored in said encrypted code storage means. 
     
     
       38. An apparatus according to claim 37, further comprising input terminal means for receiving power from said electronic lock, at least said encrypted code transmission means being driven by the power from said input terminal means. 
     
     
       39. An apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising timepiece circuit means for obtaining a time signal based on a reference signal. 
     
     
       40. An electronic key apparatus comprising: key data input means including item input means for inputting an item data indicating a type of an electronic lock, and encrypted code input means for inputting an encrypted code for unlocking the electronic lock for each item data;   key data storage means for storing a plurality of item data and encrypted codes corresponding thereto input by said key data input means;   display means for displaying the item data and encrypted codes stored in said key data storage means;   pass data storage means for storing pass data;   pass data input means for inputting the pass data;   judging means for judging whether or not the pass data input by said pass data input means coincides with pass data stored in said pass data storage means; and   encrypted code transmission means for transmitting the encrypted code stored in said key data storage means when the coincidence is detected by said judging means   said encrypted code transmission means comprising:   item selection means for selecting one of the plurality of item data; and   means for reading out the encrypted code corresponding to the item data selected by said item selection means and for sending out the readout encrypted code.   
     
     
       41. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said item selection means comprises means for key inputting an item data to be selected. 
     
     
       42. An apparatus according to claim 40, further comprising storage means for storing the coincidence detected by said judging means, selection of said item selection means being enabled by said storage means. 
     
     
       43. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said encrypted code transmission means comprises light emitting diode means for transmitting the encrypted code as a light signal. 
     
     
       44. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said encrypted code transmission means comprises a nonvolatile memory. 
     
     
       45. An apparatus according to claim 40, further comprising indicating means for indicating that the encrypted code is being transmitted by said encrypted code transmission means. 
     
     
       46. An apparatus according to claim 40, further comprising error alarming means for indicating that a coincidence is not detected by said judging means. 
     
     
       47. An apparatus according to claim 40, further comprising receiving means for receiving a signal transmitted from said electronic lock, and a display device which is driven in accordance with the signal received by said receiving means. 
     
     
       48. An apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the signal received by said receiving means includes a signal indicating that said electronic lock cannot be unlocked. 
     
     
       49. An apparatus according to claim 40, further comprising input terminal means for receiving power from said electronic lock, at least said encrypted code transmission means being driven by the power from said input terminal means. 
     
     
       50. An apparatus according to claim 40, further comprising timepiece circuit means for obtaining a time signal based on a reference signal.